Pilibhit Leopard Safari: Leopard Safari will start soon in Pilibhit, Snake Venom Center will be built in Lucknow.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena presiding over the review meeting organized at Bapu Bhawan regarding wildlife conservation, eco-tourism and tourist facilities.

Read, Lucknow. Preparations have started to give a new dimension to wildlife tourism in Uttar Pradesh. Leopard Safari will soon be developed in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, while work will also be done rapidly towards setting up a Snake Venom Extraction Center in the capital Lucknow. In the review meeting held at Bapu Bhawan on Thursday, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge) Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena gave instructions to take these two projects forward on priority basis.

The progress of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Dudhwa National Park, Etawah Lion Safari, Kanpur Zoological Park and Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Park, Lucknow was reviewed in the meeting. Officials said that the plan for Leopard Safari has been prepared in view of the increasing number of leopards in Pilibhit area. A detailed project report for this has been prepared and now the process of putting it on the ground is being expedited.

With the start of Leopard Safari, wildlife tourism in the state will get a new identity. This will develop a new attraction center for tourists coming from India and abroad and employment opportunities will also increase at the local level.

Dr. Arun Kumar SaxenaMinister of State for Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge)

Snakebite treatment and research will get a new direction

The progress of the proposed Snake Venom Extraction Center in Lucknow was also reviewed in the meeting. Officials were directed to finalize the project soon. After the launch of this centre, the work related to snakebite treatment, venom research and anti-venom is expected to be strengthened. A large number of snakebite cases are reported every year in Uttar Pradesh, hence this center is also considered important for the health sector.

Officials present in the review meeting organized regarding wildlife conservation, eco-tourism and tourist facilities.

Instructions to improve facilities in Etawah Lion Safari

During the review of Etawah Lion Safari, the Forest Minister gave instructions to complete the pending construction works and infrastructure facilities soon. He said that all necessary arrangements should be completed in a time bound manner to provide a better experience to the tourists.

New activities will increase in zoos

Directors of all zoological parks of the state were asked to pay special attention to the health, conservation and care of wildlife. Besides, instructions were given to start new activities, run public awareness programs and expand facilities to attract tourists.

Focus on cleaning toilets also

In the meeting, strict instructions were also given regarding the cleanliness of public facilities, especially toilets. The Forest Minister said that there should be regular monitoring of cleanliness in all tourist places and zoological parks, as the tourist experience largely depends on the infrastructure facilities. Principal Secretary Environment, Forest and Climate Change V Hekali Jhimomi, PCCF Wildlife Anuradha Bemuri and senior officials of the department were present in the meeting.